Camp Fire: Local politicians urge sign-ups for state debris removal program

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Assemblyman James Gallagher (R-Yuba City) encourages enrollment in the government-sponsored debris removal program after the Camp Fire at a press conference in the Paradise Town Hall on Thursday. Behind him are Paradise Mayor Jody Jones and Butte County Supervisor Doug Teeter, far right. (Risa Johnson — Enterprise-Record)

PARADISE — State and local representatives are urging those who lost homes and businesses in the Camp Fire to sign up for the government-sponsored debris removal program before the Jan. 31 deadline.

Paradise Mayor Jody Jones, Assemblyman James Gallagher (R-Yuba City) and Butte County Supervisor Doug Teeter gave their stamp of approval for the program at a press conference Thursday in Paradise, emphasizing that cleanup was an important step for a speedy recovery.

The most destructive wildfire in California history left a massive amount of debris in its wake, requiring the largest post-fire debris cleanup in state history. It destroyed about 18,800 structures, including nearly 14,000 homes.

Gallagher said that while often “very skeptical of government” himself — part of the reason he went into politics — the state program had proven effective following other wildfire disasters.

“We want to get this process moving in a very efficient manner so we don’t have, you know, piles of rubble that are left behind, and not dealt with, and maybe subject to an abandonment process down the road,” he said.

The state debris removal program is free upfront. If a property owner has insurance that covers debris removal, the state will draw from that specifically allocated funding. But there is no cost to property owners directly.

The alternative is to hire licensed contractors and consultants, and pay for the work. But property owners who prefer this option need to submit an alternative fire debris removal application form to Butte County and get a work plan approved by the county’s environmental health department.

Inaction is likely to be more costly. If property owners do not essentially opt in or opt out of the government program, that could lead to an abatement process. And that could result in the property owner footing the entire bill for the work.

Cal OES Director Mark Ghilarducci said that because debris removal was done quickly after the North Bay wildfires, neighborhoods like Coffey Park were making great strides toward rebuilding.

“The lot will be cleared and it will be addressed in a very respectful manner,” Ghilarducci said. “The lot will then be certified at the end of the cleanup, and it will be turnkey and ready to be rebuilt on.”

State officials said they expected debris removal to take about a year, and that clearing one lot took 2-3 days on average. They said the state would hire as many local sub-contractors as possible.

Mayor Jones gave some tips on filling out the forms for debris removal, based upon her personal experience. Jones urged people to read them carefully and apply as soon as possible, not to wait for the deadline.

Gallagher offered a reminder that survivors who received rejection letters from the Federal Emergency Management Agency could try applying again for assistance, and also that the deadline to apply for disaster assistance through FEMA was extended to Jan. 31.

Paradise Mayor Jody Jones speaks to reporters about the government-sponsored debris removal program at Paradise Town Hall on Thursday. She is flanked by Assemblyman James Gallagher, left and Cal OES Director Mark Ghilarducci. (Risa Johnson

Casey Hatcher, a county spokeswoman, said by phone after the press conference that about 4,300 people — accounting for around 30 percent of parcels with burned structures — had registered with the state’s debris removal program. No action has been taken for the remaining, roughly 60 percent of parcels, Hatcher said.

While she didn’t have an estimate on hand, she said just a “handful” of applications for the recently announced alternative process had been submitted so far.

Some people seem hesitant about signing up for the state program because they have heard it would be faster to hire a private contractor, and in some cases that will be true, Hatcher said. The state expects to clear the final lot in a year’s time.

Another common concern is what portion of insurance funding would go toward the state debris removal program. Hatcher advises that property owners ask their insurance provider about their policy.

Two of the most commonly asked questions are about contractors: whether the county has a list of suggested licensed contractors, and how payment works if property owners opt for the alternative program. Hatcher said there is no such list, and that property owners take on all responsibility for payment under the alternative program.

The main message she wanted to get out was that property owners have to submit applications for either program they choose. If they do nothing, lots are going to be cleared, one way or another.

“It’s a community health issue if we leave debris on properties,” she said.

Over 90 percent of properties destroyed by the Carr Fire last summer opted in to the state cleanup program, according to Pat Minturn, public works director and Carr Fire recovery director for Shasta County. In an interview by phone, Minturn said approximately 101 properties opted out of the program, while about 1,050 homes and about 100 major outbuildings opted in.

He said the county received “very few” complaints about the work done.

“Overall, it was very successful,” Minturn said.

There was inaction on about five parcels in the county, he said. The state still cleaned the lots, and now liens will be placed on those properties.

Risa Johnson covers the city of Chico, local politics and general news for the Chico Enterprise-Record and Oroville Mercury-Register newspapers. She has written extensively about the Oroville Dam crisis. She is a proud alumna of Chico State University. Reach her at 530-896-7763.